Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

stand with his sweetheart, May. The stranger is invited to be the carrier's guest, and the act ends
with the entrance of the excited villagers, all eagerly clamouring for the letters and parcels brought
by John. Act 2 takes place in John's garden, where a pretty love-scene is enacted by John and Dot.
They are interrupted by the dejected May, who is followed by the pompous old Tackleton, who
disgusts her with his attentions and boastings of what he will give her when they are married to the
amusement of the bystanders, who know him well to be an old skinflint. The disguised Edward, on
seeing the pair, is at first upset; but soon realising that May still loves him, and is being forced by
duty only to wed Tackleton, he recovers his spirits, and begins to arrange at once with the
sympathetic Dot to whom he secretly reveals his true identity how he will himself be the
bridegroom on the morrow. Meanwhile Tackleton draws John's attention to the fact that the
stranger is paying great attention to the postilion 's pretty wife, and when John sees the glad
greeting given to the seeming sailor by Dot who, aware that he is watching her, and, wishing to
punish his un-necessary suspicion, pretends to be indulging in a mild flirtation with her old friend
he is filled with jealousy. He flings himself in a dejected attitude upon a garden-seat, almost in
despair; but the merry little Fairy-Cricket emerges from a rose-bush close by, and its cheery song
brings to him a sweet and comforting dream, in which elves and fairies dance and sing of the joys
which are coming to him for in the background he sees, beyond the fairies, a miniature John the
Postilion merrily playing. Act 3 takes place in John's house, where May, arrayed in bridal
garments, is vainly endeavouring to keep back her tears, in which effort she is encouraged by the
happy Dot, who has now arranged with Edward that he is indeed to be the bridegroom, and that
old Tackleton shall be disappointed of his youthful bride. Edward now appears and reveals himself
to May, who is filled with joy at the return of her lover, and the pair presently depart to carry out
the plans which Edward has made. Old Tackleton next appears in his gorgeous wedding-garments,
somewhat scared now that his wedding-day has arrived, and already regretting the rash step he is
taking in wedding a pretty young girl who is likely to lead him into unwonted extravagances; and
when the gay villagers presently crowd around him, dancing and singing, and declaring that they
have all come to make merry at his expense, he is more dismayed still. When Edward now
appears, without his disguise, and clad in wedding-garments also, declaring that he intends to he
the bridegroom and take the pretty May to wife, Tackleton is furious; but his protests are quickly
over-ruled, and he is forced to retire crestfallen, as the merry wedding-party set off for the church
in the carriage which he has provided. John is still feeling hurt at Dot's attentions to the stranger,
even though he now knows her good reason for it; but he quickly surrenders to the tender words of
his sweet wife; and when she now shyly reveals her precious secret to him, he is filled with
overwhelming joy. Then the friendly Fairy-Cricket comes forth once more, and chirps its cheerful
song of satisfaction that all the clouds have blown away, and that peace and content-ment have
settled down upon the happy household; and this exquisite picture of the sweet and simple joys of
domestic life is brought to a close by a glad chorus of fairy voices.
61. MERLIN
Grand Opera in Three Acts By Carl Goldmark
Libretto By Siegfried Lipiner
First Produced Vienna, November, 1886
Chief Characters Vivien, the Fairy Morgana, Merlin, The Demon, King Arthur, Modred, Lancelot